Tag: Bellator 244

Vadim Nemkov out to make Russian history in Bellator 244 title bout: ‘It’s a big deal for me’

If Vadim Nemkov beats Ryan Bader at Bellator 244, he will become Russia’s first light heavyweight champion in a major organization.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag] wants to make Russia proud.

The 27-year-old fighter is out to become the first Russian champion at light heavyweight in a major MMA organization. And on Friday night, Nemkov (11-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) will get the opportunity to do just that as he challenges dual champion Ryan Bader for his 205-pound title in the main event of Bellator 244.

Nemkov’s desire for bringing back the title to his home country fuels his drive.

“I really want it,” Nemkov told MMA Junkie. “I want it. I trained for it. I’m young, I’m hungry – this is what I envisioned.

“I want to have a title. I want to bring back a title to Russia. This is probably not big news, but for me it is. If I succeed and win the title, I will be the first Russian to earn a title at 205 pounds in a major organization, so it’s a big deal for me.”

[lawrence-related id=546299,545831,545832]

Nemkov is unbeaten in his Bellator career and has picked up notable victories over former Bellator champions Liam McGeary, Phil Davis and Rafael Carvalho.

The Russian won’t let his impressive run get to his head, though. Nemkov said he won’t underestimate Bader and is prepared for a hard-fought contest with the champion.

“I don’t play the fight out on my head because this is mixed martial arts, and the fight can last 25 minutes or end in 30 seconds, so I don’t really play it out,” Nemkov explained. “What I did do is prepare for 25 minutes of hard fighting. I’m prepared for 25 minutes of hard wrestling, grinding, and hard fight.

“I have a game plan, and I hope to implement it on Saturday, and if it’s successful you guys will see. Of course, I would like to finish the fight with a knockout or a quick submission, but you don’t know.”

[vertical-gallery id=498437]

Bellator 244: Roy Nelson pre-fight interview

Roy Nelson talks to MMA Junkie’s Nolan King about his upcoming bout at Bellator 244

Roy Nelson talks to MMA Junkie’s Nolan King about his upcoming bout at Bellator 244

Ryan Bader focused on 205 title but keen to settle ‘unfinished business’ with Cheick Kongo

Ryan Bader knows exactly the fight he wants when he returns to defend his heavyweight title.

Two-weight Bellator champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag]’s attention is firmly fixed on defending his light heavyweight strap Friday at Bellator 244, and he hopes to stick around for another title defense at 205 pounds before moving back up to heavyweight and settling some unfinished business with [autotag]Cheick Kongo[/autotag].

Speaking with MMA Junkie in the lead-up to his light heavyweight title defense against Vadim Nemkov at Mohegan Sun Arena, Bader (27-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) laid out his ideal scenario for the months ahead, starting with a successful title defense in Uncasville, Conn.

“A perfect world for me right now would be to go out there, beat Nemkov, defend that light heavyweight belt, then turn around and fight again at light heavyweight,” Bader explained. “I would like to get two in at light heavyweight while I cut down, while my body’s down there, and then revisit heavyweight.”

Bader said there’s an obvious matchup waiting for him when he does return to heavyweight, as a rematch with French contender Kongo (30-10-2 MMA, 12-2 BMMA) offers a compelling opportunity to settle the score with a man “Darth” has little love for.

[lawrence-related id=515397,440321]

“I do feel like Kongo and I have some unfinished business, and we were kind of gearing up to fight him in August anyway, so that’s definitely a fight that I would revisit, absolutely,” Bader said. “I’m one of those guys where I know it’s competition, and blood flows and emotions are high. But everything, just the way he carried himself, pushing me at the weigh-ins and saying it was my fault somehow, to the eye-poke thing, when there’s clearly video evidence to the contrary where I poked him in his nostril. Then him coming out and talking smack the whole time afterwards.

“Luckily we get to do something that a lot of people who don’t like each other wish they could do – fight. We get to do that for cash, and I definitely want to revisit that with Kongo, for sure, and ultimately beat him to decide that in the cage in a fist fight.”

The first meeting between the pair was prematurely halted and rendered a no contest as a result of Kongo being unable to continue due to the alleged eye poke. But Bader said he had the clear upper hand when the fight was stopped and doesn’t expect things to be any different when the pair eventually meet again.

“I feel like in that first fight he was minutes away from getting stopped by ground and pound anyway, so I see that going exactly the same.”

[vertical-gallery id=440371]

Hablemos MMA extra: Entrevista con Erik ‘Goyito’ Perez antes de Bellator 244

Erik ‘Goyito’ Perez sobre su pela contra Josh Hill este viernes en Bellator 244 y mucho más.

[protected-iframe id=”00acfe858fbeaf619a69f502404c7d7b-58289362-175052915″ info=”https://omny.fm/shows/mma-junkie-radio/entrevista-con-erik-goyito-perez-hablemos-mma-extr/embed?size=square” width=”560″ height=”315″ frameborder=”0″]

(Editor’s note: Hablemos MMA is MMA Junkie’s weekly Spanish-language podcast hosted by reporter Danny Segura. New episodes are released every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more of your favorite podcasting platforms. You can also stream or download the latest episode above.)

En este episodio de Hablemos MMA extra, Danny Segura entrevista a [autotag]Erik Perez[/autotag] sobre su pela contra Josh Hill este viernes en Bellator 244, sus planes para su carrera con Bellator, el origen de su mascara de lucha libre, y mucho más.

 

 

Bellator champ Ryan Bader relishes ‘something different’ ahead of Vadim Nemkov fight

Two-division champ Ryan Bader is excited to face a fresh contender in an unusual environment at Bellator 244.

Two-division Bellator champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] has been in the game for a long time, so he’s happy to experience things a little differently as he prepares for his return.

Bader (27-5 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) will face two fresh tests on Friday night at Bellator 244 when he takes on a new challenger in the form of surging [autotag]Vadim Nemkov[/autotag]. Not only is he set to face a new opponent, he’ll also be doing so in unusual circumstances, fighting in an empty venue in Bellator’s “Fightsphere” at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Speaking to MMA Junkie during the lead-up to the fight, Bader explained that the experience of fighting in an empty arena will suit his mental approach and help bring out the best in him on fight night.

“I’m gonna like it. It’s gonna be something different,” Bader said. “I’ve been in this game for a while – I have 30-something fights – so something different kinda intrigues me. I’ve fought on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ in front of 30-40 people, and I kinda like that. There’s no distractions. You go in there, (and) it feels like a Friday sparring session. I can hear my coaches, all that kind of stuff. It kinda takes the hoopla out of it, so I get to roll in there and feel comfortable, nerves low, and I can think clearly, and that’s where I fight my best.”

[lawrence-related id=544443,502587,498745]

He’ll need to be at his best against in-form contender Nemkov (12-2 MMA, 4-0 BMMA), who hasn’t tasted defeat since joining the Bellator light heavyweight division. Bader said he’s happy to be facing a new test and a fighter whom he says is the most deserving contender for his 205-pound strap.

“There was kind of a stalemate at 205. I don’t think there was a clear-cut contender,” Bader explained. “Then Nemkov came along and started knocking off those top guys. He beat Phil Davis, Carvalho, McGeary, so he came out as a clear-cut contender. … He rose up, and I’m looking forward to this fight. He brings it, he’s young and in his prime, (and) I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Finally, I’m glad it’s here.”

Bellator 244 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card simulcasts on DAZN and Paramount following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Bellator 244 adds Yaroslav Amosov vs. Mark Lemminger, loses Mike Kimbel

The Bellator 244 lineup has lost a fight but gained two others.

The Bellator 244 lineup has lost a fight but gained two others.

[autotag]Mike Kimbel[/autotag] will no longer fight [autotag]Chaka Worthy[/autotag] on the Aug. 21 card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., according to a promotion official. A reason for Kimbel’s withdrawal/removal was not given.

The promotion has made two late additions to the preliminary card, including a 175-pound catchweight fight between [autotag]Yaroslav Amosov[/autotag] and [autotag]Mark Lemminger[/autotag].

Amosov (23-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) has defeated Bellator notables Ed Ruth, David Rickels, Erick Silva, and Gerald Harris en route to his Bellator 244 fight.

Lemminger (11-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) competed at Bellator 242 on July 24, the promotion’s first event held post-pandemic. He defeated Jake Smith by ground-and-pound stoppage in Round 2. Lemminger is riding a four-fight winning streak.

Additionally, a 150-pound catchweight fight, [autotag]John de Jesus[/autotag] (12-8 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) vs. [autotag]Vladyslav Parubchenko[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), has also been added to the prelims.

Bellator 244 takes place Friday, Aug. 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card simulcasts on DAZN and Paramount Network after prelims on MMA Junkie.

With the changes, the Bellator 244 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Paramount, DAZN, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Ryan Bader vs. Vadim Nemkov – for light heavyweight title
  • Julia Budd vs. Jessy Miele
  • Valentin Moldavsky vs. Roy Nelson
  • Andrew Kapel vs. John Salter

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie)

  • Sidney Outlaw vs. Adam Piccolotti
  • Josh Hill vs. Erik Perez
  • Lucas Brennan vs. Will Smith
  • Chris Gonzalez vs. Vladimir Tokov
  • Lance Gibson Jr. vs. Shane Kruchten
  • Weber Almeida vs. Salim Mukhidinov
  • Yaroslav Amosov vs. Mark Lemminger
  • John de Jesus vs. Vladyslav Parubchenko

[vertical-gallery id=391998]